Bombs kill at least 12 across Iraq

At least 12 Iraqis were killed Sunday in a spate of attacks, many of them in provinces where much-lauded Iraqi-led security operations had taken place recently.

The deadliest attack was in the town of Khalis in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad. Five civilians were killed and 10 were wounded when a bomb was detonated in the path of a car carrying the district's top two political and military officials, according to a provincial security official.

The two officials, Uday al-Khadran, the district commissioner, and Lt. Col. Nihad al-Saadi, were wounded in the attack, the sixth attempt on al-Khadran's life since 2004.

Al-Khadran is a prominent leader in the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a major Shiite political party. In Diyala, where the majority of the population is Sunni.

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The attack in Khalis took place where security had been relaxed after a major Iraqi-led security operation across Diyala in July. A roadside bomb killed one person in Baqouba, the provincial security official said.

Saja Qadouri, of the Diyala council, blamed laxity and infiltration of local security forces for the attack.